The loss of Wise to Newcastle United has taken Leeds by surprise, and few at Elland Road predicted that a speculative report linking the 41-year-old to St James' Park 10 days ago would later prove accurate.

United were not made aware of Newcastle's interest until Friday, and a formal offer was received by fax from St James' Park for the first time yesterday morning.

But the speed with which the club is expected to announce his successor will prove that sentiment has no place in football.

Chairman Ken Bates confirmed today that the recruitment process has already been set in motion, with a strong hint that United's next manager could be in place before Saturday's game against Tranmere Rovers at Elland Road.

An insistence the "right appointment" is prominent on Bates' agenda, but the value of a quick transition is also apparent with 18 matches of the League One season remaining and United's prospects of promotion finely balanced.

The first-team will be left in the hands of assistant manager Dave Bassett and coach John Gannon at Southend United tonight as Wise prepares to take up his position at Newcastle, a role that is thought to equate to that of a director of football but about which the exact details remain uncertain.

What is known is that Newcastle are likely to treble the salary he received at Elland Road.

Bassett and Gannon are not candidates for the manager's job at Leeds, despite the fact that Bassett was named as the bookmakers' favourite yesterday, and the one probability about Wise's exit – which is thought to have earned United a seven-figure sum in compensation – is that it is likely to bring about a change of personnel at Thorp Arch.

All eyes were on Bates today as the 76-year-old deliberated over whom to trust with United's immediate season and long-term future.

The most interesting name thrown up amid the clamour that surrounded Wise's exit was that of Paul Ince, a manager of growing stature but one who would arrive at Elland Road with similar baggage to that of his predecessor.

Wise fought a constant battle over his Chelsea roots during his 15 months in of Leeds, and Ince would bring an unpopular connection with Manchester United to Yorkshire.

He made more than 280 appearances for the Old Trafford club at a time when Manchester United were beginning to take a stranglehold of the English game at the start of the 1990s, and his past history would not sit comfortably with those who were sceptical of Wise.

A short but successful track-record in management, however, is what gives Ince his appeal.

He saved Macclesfield Town from relegation during one season at Moss Rose, and the MK Dons squad he manages at present is streaking clear at the top of League Two.
X
Moreover, Ince falls into the price category that Leeds are expected to operate in, one in keeping with their lower-league status.

Calls were heard yesterday for the recruitment of Sam Allardyce or David O'Leary, but the idea of United turning to either man seems financially unrealistic. Chris Coleman might also fall into that group.

According to documents released during Leeds' time in administration, Wise's annual wage at Elland Road was initially around £400,000, and he took a pay cut last summer after Leeds were relegated from the Championship.

Bates' approach to finding his successor will be driven by the sensibility of what and who United can afford.

If popularity matters to him – and his comments today suggested it doesn't – then there is no shortage of candidates with connections to Leeds.

Gary McAllister, the club's former midfielder, has been estranged from management since standing down as Coventry City's player-boss for personal reasons in January 2004 but is likely to be interested, and Micky Adams is available after stepping down as Colchester United's assistant at the start of the month.

Adams, like McAllister, is a former Leeds player, but he is also a man who carries the credentials of having won promotion from Division Three with Brighton in 2001.

His history of coaching is stronger than McAllister's, though as recently as yesterday Adams was expressing a unequivocal interest in taking over at Southampton, who lost George Burley to Scotland last week.

Oldham Athletic's John Sheridan, meanwhile, would return to Yorkshire with widespread support but pertinent questions over his prior experience.

Other possibilities seem more fanciful. Glenn Hoddle was predictably listed by the layers but is unlikely to be either available of appealing to Bates.

Billy Davies, the former Preston and Derby County manager, has a solid background but appeared to burn any bridges he had with United's supporters during the Championship play-off semi-final between Leeds and Preston in 2006.

Bates has stressed his intention that negotiations with the individuals on his shortlist would remain a private matter, saying: "We won't discuss our business in public.

"That's always been our way of doing things here, and there'll be no speculation or leaks from us.

"When we've got the right man we'll tell everyone.

"Until then, we'll be silent."